Julius Caesar
By
William Shakespeare
Act V:
Scene 1

CASSIUS.Messala,This is my birth-day; as this very dayWas Cassius born. Give me thy hand, Messala:Be thou my witness that against my will,As Pompey was, am I compell'd to setUpon one battle all our liberties.You know that I held Epicurus strong,And his opinion: now I change my mind,And partly credit things that do presage.Coming from Sardis, on our former ensignTwo mighty eagles fell; and there they perch'd,Gorging and feeding from our soldiers' hands;Who to Philippi here consorted us:This morning are they fled away and gone;And in their steads do ravens, crows, and kitesFly o'er our heads and downward look on us,As we were sickly prey: their shadows seemA canopy most fatal, under whichOur army lies, ready to give up the ghost.

MESSALA.Believe not so.

CASSIUS.I but believe it partly;For I am fresh of spirit, and resolvedTo meet all perils very constantly.

BRUTUS.Even so, Lucilius.

CASSIUS.Now, most noble Brutus,The gods to-day stand friendly, that we may,Lovers in peace, lead on our days to age!But, since th' affairs of men rest still incertain,Let's reason with the worst that may befall.If we do lose this battle, then is thisThe very last time we shall speak together:What are you then determined to do?

BRUTUS.Even by the rule of that philosophyBy which I did blame Cato for the deathWhich he did give himself; — I know not how,But I do find it cowardly and vile,For fear of what might fall, so to preventThe time of life; — arming myself with patienceTo stay the providence of some high powersThat govern us below.

CASSIUS.Then, if we lose this battle,You are contented to be led in triumphThorough the streets of Rome?

BRUTUS.No, Cassius, no: think not, thou noble Roman,That ever Brutus will go bound to Rome;He bears too great a mind. But this same dayMust end that work the Ides of March begun;And whether we shall meet again I know not.Therefore our everlasting farewell take:For ever, and for ever, farewell, Cassius!If we do meet again, why, we shall smile;If not, why, then this parting was well made.

CASSIUS.For ever and for ever farewell, Brutus!If we do meet again, we'll smile indeed;If not, 'tis true this parting was well made.

BRUTUS.Why then, lead on. O, that a man might knowThe end of this day's business ere it come!But it sufficeth that the day will end,And then the end is known. — Come, ho! away!